A Geek Leader Podcast - inspiring technical and creative leaders around the world

About Erin Erin Coupe is an international keynote speaker, executive advisor, and bestselling author who advises high-performers and organizations on redefining how success is achieved and sustained. Her work equips leaders to strengthen clarity, expand capacity, and sustain high performance over time, enabling them to operate with greater discernment, presence, and effectiveness in today’s most demanding environments. She is the author of the bestselling book I Can Fit That In, named a 2026 NextList selection by J.P. Morgan, recognizing influential ideas shaping the future of leadership, culture, and performance. Her insights have been featured in Fast Company, Inc., Business Insider, Success Magazine, The Guardian, and leading media outlets. She is a trusted advisor to executives and leadership teams across Fortune 100 to Fortune 1000 companies, global associations, universities, and professional sports organizations. Erin is known for her rare ability to articulate the invisible pressures shaping modern leadership and translate them into practical, transformative shifts. Through keynote speaking, executive advisory, and immersive leadership experiences, she equips individuals and organizations to expand leadership capacity, strengthen clarity, and lead with grounded authority rather than constant urgency. Prior to starting her own business, Erin spent over 17 years inside publicly traded corporations, including Goldman Sachs, where she experienced firsthand the pace, expectations, and complexity leaders navigate at the highest levels. This lived experience, combined with her expertise in neuroscience, human behavior, and leadership development, allows her to bridge the gap between high performance and human sustainability in a way that resonates deeply with executive audiences. She lives on the North Shore of Chicago with her husband and two boys, where life beyond work serves as her source of ritual and perspective. Today We Talked About Erin’s background Turning Pain into Purpose Bad Leadership Put your oxygen mask on first Who do you want to model Healthy Boundries Leadership Fitting in the important things Invisible Loads… Outdated beliefs Always business Connect with Erin LinkedIn Website Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Allison Allison Shapira is an executive advisor, Harvard lecturer, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and trained opera singer who helps senior leaders speak with confidence, clarity, and authenticity—especially in high-stakes, high-visibility moments. Since 2003, she has advised leaders from prime ministers to Fortune 50 executives and has designed leadership communication programs that drive trust, alignment, and measurable results. An entrepreneur and global expert in leadership and communication, Allison brings over two decades of experience to every engagement. Her practical frameworks integrate cutting-edge AI tools to help executives sharpen their message, amplify their voice, and Speak With Impact℠. An adjunct lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School since 2015, her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The New York Times, and Harvard Business Review. She is the author of three books: the Washington Post best-seller Speak with Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others (HarperCollins Leadership), the companion e-guide Speak with Impact VIRTUALLY, and her newest book, AI for the Authentic Leader: How to Communicate More Effectively Without Losing Your Humanity (Spa Creek Press). Today We Talked About Human side of genAI Authentic Leadership Speaking and Communication Building Trust and Influence Jargon – use AI as a Mirror Create a chatbot, grounded in your business. Aligning AI language models with values Measure the effectiveness of communication Proof your work (especcially with AI) Who is your audience, What is your Goal, Why you? AVI – Authentic Voice Intelligence AI Authenticity Loop – Link ACE Model of Communication Authenticity Clearity Energy Give your team opprotunities to speak How is AI helping me be a better human? Connect with Allison LinkedIn Website Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Preston Preston Zeller sits at an unusual intersection: faith-tech founder, growth executive, documentary filmmaker, and abstract artist. As founder of Psalmlog, he’s building an AI-powered biblical guidance app that helps believers access relevant Scripture for any life situation—addressing the universal Christian challenge of knowing God’s Word has answers but not knowing where to look. His approach is informed by proprietary research with 200+ Christians and 15 years scaling companies from $25M to $300M ARR. As Chief Growth Officer at BatchService, he oversaw the GTM teams, leading to two successful exits. He previously led digital marketing and growth at A Cloud Guru (acquired by Pluralsight for $2B) and ZoomInfo (IPO’d). Preston brings equal depth to creative work. His documentary The Art of Grieving (2022) follows his year-long project of painting daily after his 35-year-old brother Colin died suddenly from a fentanyl overdose. The film explores grief through personal narrative, art therapy, and cultural history. It’s available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Tubi, and has won Best Documentary at the LA Film Awards, Bridge Film Fest, and Love Wins International Film Festival. Preston is based in Phoenix with his wife and children. Today We Talked about Faith and Tech AI and Faith Prompt engineering on models RAG – retrieval, augmented, generation Psalmlog Documentary 365 days of art grief Connect with Preston LinkedIn Website Psalmlog Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Will Will Linssen has been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Executive Coaching Voice, serves as advisor to Harvard Business Review, has been ranked World’s#1 Leadership Coach by Global Gurus and World’s #1 Coach Trainer by Thinkers 50, and has attained the highest accreditation – Master Certified Coach from the International Coaching Federation. His latest book, Triple Win Leadership Coaching, is an international #1 Bestseller at Amazon. With 30 years of leadership experience across North America, Asia, and Europe, Will serves as CEO of the Global Coach Group, the world’s most renowned international leadership coaching network. Will has been ranked as the World’s # 1 Leadership Coach by Global Gurus (USA) and recognized as #1 Coach Trainer by Thinkers50 (UK). Furthermore, Will is a Master Certified Coach at the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and co-author of the Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching methodology. For over two decades, he has been working with executive teams to measurably improve their leadership and team effectiveness. He has held several positions in general management and business management at multinational companies in Europe, North America, and Asia, and he has served at the board of several multinationals in Asia. Will travels the globe training executive coaches and coaching business leaders using GCG’s highly effective methodology. Clients consistently commend his results-driven personality combined with his confident, energetic, and relatable style. A good listener and problem solver with in-depth business knowledge and cross-cultural understanding, he has been recognized for his creative and analytical skills, and most of his executive clients hold international positions in a wide range of industries at Fortune 500 Cos across the USA, LATAM, Europe, Asia, and Australia, a.o. AON, Allianz, BAT, Bayer, Coca Cola, GSK, ING, Kimberly Clark, LG, LinkedIn, McDonald’s, Novartis, Pepsi, Philips, Philip Morris, Sanofi, Standard Chartered Bank, Saudi Telecom, Saudi Institute of Public Administration, Syngenta, SC Johnson, and Uber. Will Linssen is a globally recognized leadership coach, international #1 Amazon bestselling author, and the creator of the Triple Win Leadership Coaching methodology. His publications focus on developing measurable leadership effectiveness and helping organizations thrive through proven coaching strategies. His books, available on Amazon and wherever books are sold, serve as essential resources for leaders, coaches, and HR professionals seeking to drive performance, engagement, and growth. Below is a selection of his most impactful published works: Triple Win Leadership Coaching: The Coach’s Guide to More Impact, More Coaching, and More Clients (2025) Pinnacle of Influence: How the World’s Greatest Thought Leaders Became Global Gurus (2024, Co-Author) Global Leadership Coaching – Coaching and Leader Guides (2021) Global Leadership Assessment – Coach and Leader Guides (2021) Taking the Stage: Breakthrough Stories from Women Leaders (2013, Co-Author) Today We Talked About Coaching Leadership Influence Future focused suggestion Action Plan Accountability Agile Coaching Communication properly Ask questions Becoming a coach – get certified first (ICF) Convert Know-how into Show-how Mashall Goldsmith AI and coaching Connect with Will Book LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Ben Ben Fox is a career coach who helps senior software engineers break free from toxic jobs and build careers that feel meaningful, energizing, and aligned. Clients describe him as calm, grounding, and easy to open up to, yet also direct, honest, and unwavering in holding them accountable to the life they say they want. A third-generation New Yorker, Ben blends emotional intelligence with no-nonsense clarity. He creates deeply relational partnerships, sharing his own experiences so clients feel supported by a real human, not a distant expert. Many say they can “hear his voice” long after sessions, reminding them of their capability, brilliance, and worth. Ben lives in Brooklyn, loves the beach, body surfing, traveling, and is proudly connected to his NYC roots (including his 103-year-old Bronx grandmother). His work is fueled by a simple belief: when people realign their inner world, their outer world transforms. Today We Talked About Background Coaching Burnout Toxic workplace – its a bug, not a feature Having your next job figured out before you leave What is my runway? How to quit your job? What to do next Boundaries Fear Taming your Gremlins “And Then What?” Runway   Connect with Ben LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Joe After working with some of the best coaches and mentors in the business, doing 1,000’s of Coaching Sessions, Group Trainings, and Mastermind Groups, Joe has mastered the ability to help his clients skyrocket their success. The results speak for themselves. Over the last 10 years, Joe has helped his clients to scale their companies and collectively acquire more than 5 Billion dollars worth of real estate holdings from self storage to flex space, single family, warehouse, str, retail centers and more. Over the years, Joe has learned that different people need different levels of Coaching. He’s created several effective ways to work together to transform people faster than they ever thought possible. Today We Talked About Background Service General Contractor / Builder Real Estate Investment Navy Entreneurpership The Art is in the Start Solving Problems You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with Pivots Self-Storage Coaching House Hacking Residential vs. Commercial Triple Net opprotunities Connect with Joe LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Andrew Andrew Blotky, JD, PCC, brings a wealth of direct experience in leadership, culture, and communications in the corporate, political, and non-profit worlds. He has successfully built and led organizations during periods of unprecedented growth, change, and impact. His work focuses on building and maintaining vibrant cultures, steady, effective leadership across functions and teams, and consistent, clear communications on a wide array of issues. Andrew has always been passionate about leadership, culture and how organizations work, from his first election to student council in 3rd grade. He’s passionate about being an excellent manager, and empowering teams to grow and thrive. He is the author of the book, Honestly Speaking: How the Way We Communicate Transforms Leadership, Love, and Life. From 2023 – 2025, Andrew was Vice President of Communications at Johnson & Johnson, overseeing the enterprise employee communications, Human Resources communications, and global shared services communications teams. During his tenure, he significantly transformed the way the company engaged with its 130,000 employees globally across all business units. He also evolved the company narrative externally and internally about the company’s culture and its people practices, from hiring and recruiting to learning, development, and total rewards, in conjunction with the new J&J brand, launched in late 2023. From 2013 – 2018, Andrew built and led the first global employee communications team to support all company teams and functions at Facebook during a period of significant, rapid growth and global impact, as the company grew from 5,000 to 30,000 employees worldwide. At Facebook, Andrew was responsible for leading communications with all of the company’s employees and leaders globally on every initiative and program at the company.  He focused on maintaining and evolving highly-effective, open communications channels and messages during a period of rapid growth. Andrew started his career in politics and public policy as an intern in the White House Office of Presidential Speechwriting under President Bill Clinton. Later, he worked as the Communications Director for various elected officials in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and on the communications and policy team in the San Francisco Mayor’s office. Before joining Facebook, Andrew spent several years in Washington, DC, where he built and led the first-ever legal policy and communications program, Legal Progress, at the Center for American Progress (CAP), a progressive think-tank and advocacy organization. At CAP, he worked closely with the Obama Administration and progressive advocates in Washington, DC and in states across the country on building education and advocacy campaigns focused the U.S. courts and judges as a political issue. Andrew was also an adjunct professor at Stanford University for several years, where he developed and taught public policy courses on advocacy and nonprofits in the political process as well as on national security in a changing world. Andrew is currently an operating advisor for Bessemer Venture Partners. He has previously served on the boards of the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy and on the Stanford University Board of Trustees Committee on Academic Policy, Planning and Management. He holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from Stanford University, and is a member of the California State Bar. He holds an Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Accreditation from the International Coaching Federation and is a Certified Hudson Institute Coach. Andrew is also a graduate of the Modern Elder Academy. Today We Talked About Andrew’s background Communication Transparency Honesty Trust Invite others to come with you on the journey How do you build trust? Relativity for long term relationships Feelings Wheel Create space – silence Connect with Andrew LinkedIn Website Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Tracy and Michelle Dr. Tracy Christopherson and Michelle Troseth are co-founders of MissingLogic® . The core of their work is to help mid-career and executive leaders finally unlock their next level without overworking and neglecting their personal life by tapping into Polarity Intelligence®. Tracy and Michelle are co-authors of the book Polarity Intelligence: The Missing Logic in Leadership and co-hosts of Burnout Proof Leadership (previously known as The TRU Leader Podcast). The polarity power pair is known for helping leaders balance leading and living so they can be TRU leaders—thriving, resilient, and unstoppable. Today We Talked About Tracy’s background Michelle’s background Both/And vs. Either/Or Tensions Leadership Polarity Intelligence? Leading and Managing Burnout Proof Leadership Dynamic Balance Partnership Agreement How am I Showing up? Wisdom in Resistence Meaningful Dialogue Sit in curiousity Candor Connect with Tracy and Michelle LinkedIn – Tracy LinkedIn – Michelle Website Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Adrian Adrian Martinca is a visionary tech entrepreneur, philanthropist, and advocate for children’s futures, dedicated to bridging the digital divide and empowering the next generation through innovative technology. Originally from Slovakia, Adrian has amassed over 100,000 hours in the tech industry, channeling his expertise into transformative initiatives that prioritize education and opportunity. As the founder of The Ark of Dreams, he has spearheaded efforts to deliver millions of dollars in cutting-edge devices and resources to underserved schools and children worldwide, impacting more than 100,000 young lives by ensuring no dream is left behind due to lack of access. A sought-after thought leader, Adrian frequently speaks on the ethical integration of AI in education, parenting, and city development, emphasizing how emerging technologies can foster human connection rather than replace it. His work extends beyond philanthropy; through Technology for the Future, he drives scalable solutions that redefine how we prepare kids for an AI-driven world. Passionate and relentless, Adrian believes dreams must guide our innovations. “Technology isn’t just a tool—it’s the key to unlocking potential,” he often says. Connect with him to explore how we can build a brighter, more equitable tomorrow. Today We Talked About Technology for children Foundations What is the Ark of Dreams How AI is affecting us Legacy? Screen Time Dreams Family Future of AI Open Doors Movement Connect with Adrian Website YouTube LinkedIn Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About John John Rood is founder at Proceptual, a AI governance consulting and training company. John is a certified ISO 42001 Lead Auditor. He also teaches AI governance and safety at Michigan State University and the University of Chicago. Today We Talked About John’s background AI Governance Policy Being Agile Prompt injection PII data Incident Reporting Mechanism Response Training Who and How? ISO 42001 Relationships   Connect with John LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!